Exploring What’s on my Doorstep: WhistlingKite24 does South-east Queensland

Location 10: Oxley Creek Common, Brisbane – 22nd July 2021

Situated on Brisbane’s southside, the Oxley Creek Common is a large site incorporating a range of different habitats predominately being wetland and agricultural grassland segmented with patches of open forest. The location is a known favourite among Brisbane birders and is very popular at the right time of the day. Today was an express visit as I was in the area and had an hour to kill before another commitment. I managed to see a decent range of species in about 45 minutes and even found a reptile lifer (stay tuned).

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After arriving, I headed straight towards the cow paddock that runs opposite the carpark. Along with the ubiquitous Cattle Egrets, there was a body of water that was located behind the livestock. I saw Australian Wood Ducks and several groups of Pied Stilts predominately. The grounds near the red barn were home to several staples; Spotted Turtle Dove, Willie Wagtail, Australian Magpie, Welcome Swallow and an Australian Brush-turkey. A quick scan of the nooks and crannies of the red barn also revealed a Common Brushtail Possum high up in the rafters.

The Oxley Creek Common is very easy birding I find. As soon as I opened the gate leading towards the first stretch of forest I found several species; a Spangled Drongo, Rufous Whistlers, numerous groups of Red-backed Fairywrens and Double-barred Finches all grabbed my initial attention. Brown Honeyeaters and Lewin’s Honeyeaters were common right throughout the bush as well. This place is also a very reliable location for Brown Quail. There are large groups that roam the undergrowth throughout most places. They are fascinating little birds to watch. They were surprisingly chatty today as they crossed the paths.

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Brown Quail

If you like fairywrens (who doesn’t) then this is the place for you. Besides the prolific Red-backed Fairywrens, the second species I found was a male Variegated Fairywren that was high up in a eucalyptus feeding on small insects. There seems to be more individuals of this species around locally or I am just noticing them more efficiently on my travels. In the same tree was a male Australian Golden Whistler and a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike. Flocks of Red-browed Finches and Chestnut-breasted Mannikins were also common in the patch of forest that followed the adjacent grassland. Delightful birds to watch feeding. I also spotted an Elegant Snake-eyed Skink on a log.

I simply didn’t have time to go out towards the larger lagoon but I did spot from a distance a Pacific Heron, several Dusky Moorhens and an Intermediate Egret. I was also really happy to get an up-close look at a Golden-headed Cisticola in a patch of grassland. The third fairywren species for the day was a stunning little Superb Fairywren in a nearby paddock singing his heart out. The martins at Oxley Common fly quite low providing confident identifications of both Tree and Fairy Martins.

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Superb Fairywren

As I was returning back towards the front, I spotted something very exciting. There was a large Eastern Brown Snake who was clearly very well-fed! The snake was tucked very well in the long grass and I didn’t want to get too close for obvious reasons. Suddenly, it went straight toward the depths of the grass and struck out its mouth towards the nearby vegetation. Strike! A flock of quails were flushed out of the grass. The snake missed by millimetres. I was very happy to finally pick up this reptile lifer and witness such an event.

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Eastern Brown Snake

While this was a very brief stop to Oxley Creek Common, I still managed to record a decent range of species. It goes without saying it’s worth visiting as a Brisbane hotspot for many species and a popular drawcard for many birders. The range of habitats supplement an impressive array of birdlife as the nearby hum of suburbia travels through the site. An accessible and pleasant location.

Mammals
Common Brushtail Possum, Trichosurus vulpecula

Birds
Australian Brush-turkey, Alectura lathami
Brown Quail, Synoicus ypsilophorus
Australian Wood Duck, Chenonetta jubata
Dusky Moorhen, Gallinula tenebrosa
Pacific Heron, Ardea pacifica
Intermediate Egret, Ardea intermedia
Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
Pied Stilt, Himantopus leucocephalus
Spotted Turtle Dove, Spilopelia chinensis
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Coracina novaehollandiae
Laughing Kookaburra, Dacelo novaeguineae
Welcome Swallow, Hirundo neoxena
Tree Martin, Petrochelidon nigricans
Fairy Martin, Petrochelidon ariel
Willie Wagtail, Rhipidura leucophrys
Grey Fantail, Rhipidura albiscapa
Brown Honeyeater, Lichmera indistincta
Lewin’s Honeyeater, Meliphaga lewinii
Noisy Miner, Manorina melanocephala
Australian Golden Whistler, Pachycephala pectoralis
Rufous Whistler, Pachycephala rufiventris
Spangled Drongo, Dicrurus bracteatus
Golden-headed Cisticola, Cisticola exilis
Variegated Fairywren, Malurus lamberti
Superb Fairywren, Malurus cyaneus
Red-backed Fairywren, Malurus melanocephalus
Australian Magpie, Cracticus tibicen
Grey Butcherbird, Cracticus torquatus
Double-barred Finch, Taeniopygia bichenovii
Red-browed Finch, Neochmia temporalis
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, Lonchura castaneothorax

Reptiles
Elegant Snake-eyed Skink, Cryptoblepharus pulcher
Eastern Brown Snake, Pseudonaja textilis

Notable Invertebrates:
Monarch, Danaus plexippus
Black Jezebel, Delias nigrina
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Location 10: Oxley Creek Common, Brisbane – 22nd July 2021

Situated on Brisbane’s southside, the Oxley Creek Common is a large site incorporating a range of different habitats predominately being wetland and agricultural grassland segmented with patches of open forest. The location is a known favourite among Brisbane birders and is very popular at the right time of the day. Today was an express visit as I was in the area and had an hour to kill before another commitment. I managed to see a decent range of species in about 45 minutes and even found a reptile lifer (stay tuned).

………………………………………………………………………………………..........

After arriving, I headed straight towards the cow paddock that runs opposite the carpark. Along with the ubiquitous Cattle Egrets, there was a body of water that was located behind the livestock. I saw Australian Wood Ducks and several groups of Pied Stilts predominately. The grounds near the red barn were home to several staples; Spotted Turtle Dove, Willie Wagtail, Australian Magpie, Welcome Swallow and an Australian Brush-turkey. A quick scan of the nooks and crannies of the red barn also revealed a Common Brushtail Possum high up in the rafters.

The Oxley Creek Common is very easy birding I find. As soon as I opened the gate leading towards the first stretch of forest I found several species; a Spangled Drongo, Rufous Whistlers, numerous groups of Red-backed Fairywrens and Double-barred Finches all grabbed my initial attention. Brown Honeyeaters and Lewin’s Honeyeaters were common right throughout the bush as well. This place is also a very reliable location for Brown Quail. There are large groups that roam the undergrowth throughout most places. They are fascinating little birds to watch. They were surprisingly chatty today as they crossed the paths.

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Brown Quail

If you like fairywrens (who doesn’t) then this is the place for you. Besides the prolific Red-backed Fairywrens, the second species I found was a male Variegated Fairywren that was high up in a eucalyptus feeding on small insects. There seems to be more individuals of this species around locally or I am just noticing them more efficiently on my travels. In the same tree was a male Australian Golden Whistler and a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike. Flocks of Red-browed Finches and Chestnut-breasted Mannikins were also common in the patch of forest that followed the adjacent grassland. Delightful birds to watch feeding. I also spotted an Elegant Snake-eyed Skink on a log.

I simply didn’t have time to go out towards the larger lagoon but I did spot from a distance a Pacific Heron, several Dusky Moorhens and an Intermediate Egret. I was also really happy to get an up-close look at a Golden-headed Cisticola in a patch of grassland. The third fairywren species for the day was a stunning little Superb Fairywren in a nearby paddock singing his heart out. The martins at Oxley Common fly quite low providing confident identifications of both Tree and Fairy Martins.

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Superb Fairywren

As I was returning back towards the front, I spotted something very exciting. There was a large Eastern Brown Snake who was clearly very well-fed! The snake was tucked very well in the long grass and I didn’t want to get too close for obvious reasons. Suddenly, it went straight toward the depths of the grass and struck out its mouth towards the nearby vegetation. Strike! A flock of quails were flushed out of the grass. The snake missed by millimetres. I was very happy to finally pick up this reptile lifer and witness such an event.

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Eastern Brown Snake

While this was a very brief stop to Oxley Creek Common, I still managed to record a decent range of species. It goes without saying it’s worth visiting as a Brisbane hotspot for many species and a popular drawcard for many birders. The range of habitats supplement an impressive array of birdlife as the nearby hum of suburbia travels through the site. An accessible and pleasant location.

Mammals
Common Brushtail Possum, Trichosurus vulpecula

Birds
Australian Brush-turkey, Alectura lathami
Brown Quail, Synoicus ypsilophorus
Australian Wood Duck, Chenonetta jubata
Dusky Moorhen, Gallinula tenebrosa
Pacific Heron, Ardea pacifica
Intermediate Egret, Ardea intermedia
Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
Pied Stilt, Himantopus leucocephalus
Spotted Turtle Dove, Spilopelia chinensis
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Coracina novaehollandiae
Laughing Kookaburra, Dacelo novaeguineae
Welcome Swallow, Hirundo neoxena
Tree Martin, Petrochelidon nigricans
Fairy Martin, Petrochelidon ariel
Willie Wagtail, Rhipidura leucophrys
Grey Fantail, Rhipidura albiscapa
Brown Honeyeater, Lichmera indistincta
Lewin’s Honeyeater, Meliphaga lewinii
Noisy Miner, Manorina melanocephala
Australian Golden Whistler, Pachycephala pectoralis
Rufous Whistler, Pachycephala rufiventris
Spangled Drongo, Dicrurus bracteatus
Golden-headed Cisticola, Cisticola exilis
Variegated Fairywren, Malurus lamberti
Superb Fairywren, Malurus cyaneus
Red-backed Fairywren, Malurus melanocephalus
Australian Magpie, Cracticus tibicen
Grey Butcherbird, Cracticus torquatus
Double-barred Finch, Taeniopygia bichenovii
Red-browed Finch, Neochmia temporalis
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, Lonchura castaneothorax

Reptiles
Elegant Snake-eyed Skink, Cryptoblepharus pulcher
Eastern Brown Snake, Pseudonaja textilis

Notable Invertebrates:
Monarch, Danaus plexippus
Black Jezebel, Delias nigrina
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I believe they have Platypus there as well. What road leads to the entrance?
 
Location 11: Nudgee Waterhole Reserve, Brisbane – 29th July 2021

The Nudgee Waterhole Reserve is a small patch of melaleuca forest with an attached waterhole positioned along the fringes of suburbia. It’s located near the northern suburb of Banyo and is along the way to Nudgee Beach. A decent range of species have been recorded at the site with a sizeable 134 bird species having been noted according to eBird. Highlights include Black-necked Stork (last recorded in June 2021), Boobook Owl (last recorded in Nov 2020) and Painted Buttonquail (last recorded in Nov 2019) among others.

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The waterhole is quite large and home to several common species including Australian Pelican, Dusky Moorhen, Australasian Darter, Little Pied Cormorant and Australasian Grebe. Macquarie Turtles and very large specimens of the introduced Mozambique Tilapia are abundant through the waterways.

The walking track itself was short but very pleasant. The understory of the melaleuca is thickly covered with vines which attracted large numbers of Blue Tiger Butterflies even during winter when they are less common in Brisbane. Other butterfly species included Monarchs and Black Jezebels. Blue Triangles are also abundant in the summer but none were seen on my visit. Bushland birds were relatively scare - which is usually the case for this area - but there were large numbers of Red-backed Fairywrens. Certainly a great spot for them if one was particularly searching for this specific species. They are not shy of humans either allowing for relatively close-up shots.

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Red-backed Fairywren

Besides the fairywrens, another notable species that can be seen with relative ease were the Mistletoebirds that regularly came down from the canopy along the track. Other staples like Rufous Whistler and Grey Fantail were common throughout this patch as well. It’s a nice little spot that would be good to combine with either Boondall Wetlands and/or Nudgee Beach as they are both nearby.

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Mistletoebird

Birds
Australasian Grebe, Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
Pacific Black Duck, Anas superciliosa
Little Pied Cormorant, Microcarbo melanoleucos
Australasian Darter, Anhinga novaehollandiae
Australian Pelican, Pelecanus conspicillatus
Dusky Moorhen, Gallinula tenebrosa
Mistletoebird, Dicaeum hirundinaceum
Red-backed Fairywren, Malurus melanocephalus
Grey Fantail, Rhipidura albiscapa
Rufous Whistler, Pachycephala rufiventris

Reptiles
Macquarie Turtle, Emydura macquarii

Fish
Mozambique Tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus

Invertebrates
Blue Tiger, Tirumala hamata
Monarch, Danaus plexippus
Black Jezebel, Delias nigrina

Location 12: Keith Boden Wetlands, Brisbane – 12th August 2021

The Keith Boden Wetlands is little water source located very close to the hubbub of nearby roads in the Brisbane suburb of Wavell Heights. It’s a manmade site near a storm water drain which has a good range of species especially considering how close it is to several construction sites, schools and even people’s backyards. I like it as it’s a good opportunity to see some underappreciated species and particular birds that would take further trips out of the city to see elsewhere.

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Along the water’s edge were several classic waterbirds; Australian Wood Ducks, Pacific Black Ducks, Purple Swamphens and Dusky Moorhens. They were some more unusual birds as well like Hardhead and Grey Teal. Out towards the water was a Royal Spoonbill which are always delightful creatures, several Cattle Egrets and cormorants – both Little Pied and Little Black Cormorants. I have also seen night-herons here before as well. The swamphens are currently raising a pair of chicks.

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Female Australian Wood Duck

There was a small viewing area permitting clearer views of the birds as well as a small ‘island’ of trees located in the middle of the wetlands, providing shelter and nesting opportunities for several of the aforementioned species. There was a Straw-necked Ibis that came very close presumably looking for a free handout of food. I really love photographing these birds. It’s such fun seeing what colours are captured in photos from their stunning iridescence. They may be common as dirt but they are a personal favourite. I can understand why zoos overseas exhibit them.

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Straw-necked Ibis

Past the wetlands was a pathway that followed a small stream of water leading out towards a busy road. The water is thickly fringed with reeds. It’s of the few places I have reliably seen Australian Reed-Warbler which I again saw today along one of the reedbeds from a distance. Superb Fairywrens were also common the waterways. They always provide a pleasant pop of colour and liveliness. The final notable species is one I wish I saw more often in the wild. A small little figure emerged from the dense reed beds; a gorgeous little Buff-banded Rail. As quickly as we locked eyes it retreated back from where it emerged. All in all, a satisfying little spot quietly tucked away.

Birds
Australian Wood-duck, Chenonetta jubata
Grey Teal, Anas gracilis
Pacific Black Duck, Anas superciliosa
Hardhead, Aythya australis
Buff-banded Rail, Gallirallus philippensis
Dusky Moorhen, Gallinula tenebrosa
Australasian Swamphen, Porphyrio melanotus
Royal Spoonbill, Platalea regia
Straw-necked Ibis, Threskiornis spinicollis
Australian White Ibis,Threskiornis moluccus
Little Pied Cormorant, Microcarbo melanoleucos
Little Black Cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
Australasian Figbird, Sphecotheres vieilloti
Australian Reed-Warbler, Acrocephalus australis
Superb Fairywren, Malurus cyaneus
 
Location 13: Fitzgibbon Bushlands, Brisbane – 13th August 2021

The Fitzgibbon Bushlands is a really interesting place that I had never been to before. Like most of the sites in Brisbane, it’s squashed well within suburbia with seemingly no link to other patches of bushland. There isn’t much online about it and I wasn’t expecting much but I regularly pass it on my travels and was very curious to check it out. It’s largely open bushland with a small park that segments the two sections of trails. It’s very accessible via the 341 bus and a short three-minute walk to the community centre that is located in front of the bushland.

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The birds in the first half of the track were far and few between. The trees were dominated by Noisy Miners which are fiercely territorial. Another common species was the Blue-faced Honeyeaters which have been gathering in large numbers recently across Brisbane. I saw a large group of the birds high up in the canopy. An Olive-backed Oriole and several Noisy Friarbirds were also spotted during the first track. The tall eucalypt trees quickly made their way for denser vegetation and grasses, transforming into prime fairywren habitat. Several family groups of Red-backed Fairywrens were flitting about in the afternoon sun. A Fan-tailed Cuckoo was also close by. I was tad disappointed so far. I was quietly expecting greater opportunities to see more birds as the habitat looked ideal with mature, well-established growth. Things quickly got a lot more interesting though as I approached the last five minutes of my visit.

The largest bird wave I have experienced to date was just around corner near the boundary fence of the bushland. It started strongly with a beautiful male Restless Flycatcher. He was very showy allowing me to get clear looks at his colouration. They have a lovely satiny blue sheen. This male was joined by a second flycatcher species; a female Leaden Flycatcher. The female of this species has a striking orangey throat coupled with a matt blue finish, contrasting the glossy-looking Restless Flycatchers. While neither were lifers for me, something interesting to note is that I had only ever seen a female Restless and a male Leaden. So the direct opposite of the two flycatchers I witnessed today! I really like these flycatchers; always interesting birds to observe.

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Restless Flycatcher

Silvereyes then came out in their droves. They are difficult little buggers to photograph that never sit still but they were in every tree I looked so I had plenty of opportunities. Other species included White-throated Honeyeaters, a male Rufous Whistler, Grey Fantails, a large group of Rainbow Bee-eaters and a Spangled Drongo. The final species noted was a Little Friarbird completing what was a very satisfying end to my visit. I’d recommend Fitzgibbon Bushland. I genuinely didn’t expect many species due to the intense urbanisation that has occurred around the suburb of Fitzgibbon in recent years but was left pleasantly surprised. I will visit again.

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Silvereye

Birds
Australian Brush-turkey, Alectura lathami
Pacific Black Duck, Anas superciliosa
Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Cacomantis flabelliformis
Rainbow Bee-eater, Merops ornatus
Spangled Drongo, Dicrurus bracteatus
Silvereye, Zosterops lateralis
Rufous Whistler, Pachycephala rufiventris
Grey Fantail, Rhipidura albiscapa
Restless Flycatcher, Myiagra inquieta
Leaden Flycatcher, Myiagra rubecula
Red-backed Fairywren, Malurus melanocephalus
Noisy Miner, Manorina melanocephala
Blue-faced Honeyeater, Entomyzon cyanotis
White-throated Honeyeater, Melithreptus albogularis
Noisy Friarbird, Philemon corniculatus
Little Friarbird, Philemon citreogularis
Olive-backed Oriole, Oriolus sagittatus
Welcome Swallow, Hirundo neoxena

Location 14: Dowse Lagoon, Brisbane – 13th August 2021

The Dowse Lagoon is one of the water bodies that forms the greater Deagon Wetlands. It’s a site that is surrounded by traffic and cars unfortunately, positioned in the heart of the suburb of Sandgate. Despite being close to the perils of suburbia, it had some wonderful species that I rarely get a chance to see. Local birders were telling me today that it has faced years of neglect and is open to the widespread exposure of weeds which is a great shame as it’s an impressive and beautiful spot that deserves greater management.

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As I arrived, I spotted no less than six birdwatchers all huddled in a viewing area. I naturally joined them, socially distanced of course. They were all surveying the group of Wandering Whistling Ducks that are residents in the local area. I have only ever seen wild freeloaders at local zoos so it was nice to see them out in the open. After a quick search, the Dowse Lagoon is their stronghold in Brisbane with 112 birds being recorded at the site in 2015 which is the local record. A nice treat to start the visit. They shared the water with Pacific Black Ducks, Australian Wood Ducks, Hardheads, Grey Teal, Eurasian Coots, Australasian Swamphens and Dusky Moorhen. Australian White Ibis were also omnipresent as they always are.

I made my way around the perimeter of the water to the second viewing area. I watched the delightful antics of a Sacred Kingfisher as it caught its meal. It was quickly chased off by a Noisy Miner. The stiller water was home to a pair of Australasian Grebes and a few Cattle Egrets as well. Australasian Darters were fishing for food while several cormorants were drying off.

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Sacred Kingfisher chased by a Noisy Miner

Remember how I mentioned yesterday that I wished I saw more Buff-banded Rails in the wild? Well, I quietly observed no less than four Buff-banded Rails emerge out of the grass. One of the benefits of the Dowse Lagoon is that the viewing area sits above thick grass and reeds, allowing for clear views of any secretive birds that are hiding. Signage also indicates that Lewin’s Rail have also been recorded here. The rails were just metres away from a busy road but stayed close to the water’s edge.

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Buff-banded Rail

I really liked the Dowse Lagoon. It’s kind of an odd feeling coming down from the streets with houses seeing this immense body of water almost pop out of nowhere. It supports a great range of wildlife for such a built-up area and is certainly worth the visit if you are venturing out towards Moreton Bay.

Birds
Pacific Black Duck, Anas superciliosa
Grey Teal, Anas gracilis
Australian Wood Duck, Chenonetta jubata
Hardhead, Aythya australis
Wandering Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna arcuata
Australasian Grebe, Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
Australasian Swamphen, Porphyrio melanotus
Dusky Moorhen, Gallinula tenebrosa
Eurasian Coot, Fulica atra
Buff-banded Rail, Gallirallus philippensis
Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
Little Black Cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
Little Pied Cormorant, Microcarbo melanoleucos
Australasian Darter, Anhinga novaehollandiae
Australian White Ibis, Threskiornis moluccus
Sacred Kingfisher, Todiramphus sanctus
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Cacatua galerita
Noisy Miner, Manorina melanocephala
Welcome Swallow, Hirundo neoxena

Today saw two very different places being covered yet I found myself drawing parallels between them. Both the Dowse Lagoon and Fitzgibbon Bushlands served as examples of ‘patches of wilderness’ closely nestled within the suburbia with well-defined boundaries. They both pleasantly surprised me with the range of species perhaps offering some hope with rapid urbanisation faced across south-east Queensland; a common theme that I am sure I will encounter across my travels for this thread.
 
When I went there, the Dowse Lagoon was mostly dry and there were few birds present.

Have you been to Deagon Wetlands just nearby? That's a nice area and is apparently the stronghold in Brisbane for Squirrel Gliders.
 
Chlidonias said:
When I went there, the Dowse Lagoon was mostly dry and there were few birds present.

Have you been to Deagon Wetlands just nearby? That's a nice area and is apparently the stronghold in Brisbane for Squirrel Gliders.
Click to expand...
Yes, but only very briefly. I intend to return soon to cover it for this thread.
 
The Hobby Hunt – Kedron Brook Wetlands Reserve – 4th September 2021

Target Species: Australian Hobby

In addition to documenting new birding sites I visit numerically, I have also decided to record my trips to places I have already discussed within this thread for new target species. To prevent it becoming too repetitive as I have already mentioned in detail some of these stops, I will keep my spiel to the target species and anything notable I see on my travels rather than a full list of species I see.

The Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis) is my favourite falcon that occurs in Australia. It’s a striking bird with a rufous and buffy colouration paired with a darkish well-marked head. Essentially a tanner and smaller Peregrine of sorts. They are apparently relatively common birds and the Kedron Brook seemed to be a good stop to try and find one.

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Fortunately, after a bit of patience and luck, I was able to spot a beautiful little Australian Hobby well above the stretch of grassland. They are tiny with such elongated wings! This particular individual didn’t stick around for long but Iong enough to get an ok photo and good look as it headed off towards the horizon. Very satisfying to tick this species off the list.

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Australian Hobby

I also observed some of the most interesting wild bird behaviour I have seen to date. Several Striated Pardalotes had their wings outstretched with their tails fanned out. They would continue this behaviour facing each other and resumed every few seconds. After researching it, most sources tell me it’s a form of courtship display.

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Striated Pardolates – courtship display

The Rainbow Bee-eaters showed brilliantly today. They were right along the path at eye level at one stage but spent the majority of the time I saw them perched in eucalypts. The Pied Stilts were nesting and some had chicks. They were very vocal and would constantly monitor the area. I kept my distance. The Superb Fairywrens were also busily attending to nest all along the path. I even spotted a few chicks through my binoculars. There were lots of Torresian Kingfishers and Striated Herons all along the banks of the water. I even saw a pair of the latter flying across the adjacent grassland. In the water I also spotted a Banded Toadfish.

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Rainbow Bee-eater

I was thrilled to also see an Eastern Osprey fly over at a close distance; I have never seen one in this particular area. It joined the feeding frenzy along with the pelicans, cormorants, darters, kites and sea eagles that were all fishing for mullet at various stages of my visit.

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Brahminy Kite

Finally, I also saw a dead bandicoot along the side of a path which I had mixed feelings about. It’s good to know that bandicoots still occur in this area but the poor creature’s body was in such a state. Something clearly had gotten to it. With bandicoots and grass owls about, it would certainly be worthwhile to check this place out at night.
 
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The Stork Search – Kedron Brook Wetlands Reserve – 11th September 2021

Target Species: Black-necked Stork

I went back to Kedron Brook Wetlands Reserve today as there have been recent sightings of Black-necked Storks (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) in the area. I have been very keen to try and photograph these birds and have only seen them in the wild once before at Tinchi Tamba a few months back. They really don’t need an introduction. Australia’s only stork species and such an awesome bird to see in the wild.

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Spring is in the air. The temperature is slowly but surely rising in Brisbane. There are more birds and insects about with butterflies especially making a gradual reappearance with the warming weather. Flowers are in bloom meaning greater hordes of gregarious honeyeaters and lorikeets in general noted on my travels as well. Today at the Kedron Brook, this theme was no exception. Several groups of Rainbow Bee-eaters were hunting butterflies swiftly on the wing. I even managed to photograph one bee-eater catch and consume a butterfly. Upon further investigation, the butterfly was a new one for me. An Australian Painted Lady that was struggling to free itself from the bee-eater; a bonus lifer. It’s a shame I only got to see it for a few seconds before it went down the hatch!

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Rainbow Bee-eater consuming an Australian Painted Lady

My search for the storks continued on towards the main lake. There was a good array of species out today – chestnut teals, pelicans, stilts, herons, egrets, cormorants and darters; all the usual suspects. There was also a pristine-looking flock of Royal Spoonbills that flew overhead. There was no sign of any storks on the wetlands so I continued onwards.

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Royal Spoonbills

Along the waterway near the park, I was thrilled to see my first ever rainbowfish in the wild! I took a few photos of them in a small pool and could just make out the coloured banding. I think they were Crimson-spotted, Melanotaenia duboulayi, but I will try and get that confirmed if I can. The only other notable species I saw was a Little Friarbird feeding on the nearby grevilleas.

Conceding defeat, I made my way back towards the bike path that leads towards the exit. I stopped to look at two large figures soaring above me. “Ibis”, I thought. Then I looked again. They were unfamiliar birds with a large frame and long neck. Storks! The pair of Black-necked Storks flew over the nearby row of houses across from the water just a few metres above heavy traffic actually. Several cyclists and pedestrians also stopped and watched them in awe. They are not a common sight so close to suburbia. The storks are however unmistakable in flight once you get a good look at them; with their outstretched necks, they have strong black bars under their white broad wings. They look a tad awkward on land but well-proportioned in the sky. A perfect balance. A successful few hours I’d say.


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Black-necked Stork
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
The Stork Search – Kedron Brook Wetlands Reserve – 11th September 2021

Target Species: Black-necked Stork

I went back to Kedron Brook Wetlands Reserve today as there have been recent sightings of Black-necked Storks (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) in the area. I have been very keen to try and photograph these birds and have only seen them in the wild once before at Tinchi Tamba a few months back. They really don’t need an introduction. Australia’s only stork species and such an awesome bird to see in the wild.

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Spring is in the air. The temperature is slowly but surely rising in Brisbane. There are more birds and insects about with butterflies especially making a gradual reappearance with the warming weather. Flowers are in bloom meaning greater hordes of gregarious honeyeaters and lorikeets in general noted on my travels as well. Today at the Kedron Brook, this theme was no exception. Several groups of Rainbow Bee-eaters were hunting butterflies swiftly on the wing. I even managed to photograph one bee-eater catch and consume a butterfly. Upon further investigation, the butterfly was a new one for me. An Australian Painted Lady that was struggling to free itself from the bee-eater; a bonus lifer. It’s a shame I only got to see it for a few seconds before it went down the hatch!

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Rainbow Bee-eater consuming an Australian Painted Lady

My search for the storks continued on towards the main lake. There was a good array of species out today – chestnut teals, pelicans, stilts, herons, egrets, cormorants and darters; all the usual suspects. There was also a pristine-looking flock of Royal Spoonbills that flew overhead. There was no sign of any storks on the wetlands so I continued onwards.

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Royal Spoonbills

Along the waterway near the park, I was thrilled to see my first ever rainbowfish in the wild! I took a few photos of them in a small pool and could just make out the coloured banding. I think they were Crimson-spotted, Melanotaenia duboulayi, but I will try and get that confirmed if I can. The only other notable species I saw was a Little Friarbird feeding on the nearby grevilleas.

Conceding defeat, I made my way back towards the bike path that leads towards the exit. I stopped to look at two large figures soaring above me. “Ibis”, I thought. Then I looked again. They were unfamiliar birds with a large frame and long neck. Storks! The pair of Black-necked Storks flew over the nearby row of houses across from the water just a few metres above heavy traffic actually. Several cyclists and pedestrians also stopped and watched them in awe. They are not a common sight so close to suburbia. The storks are however unmistakable in flight once you get a good look at them; with their outstretched necks, they have strong black bars under their white broad wings. They look a tad awkward on land but well-proportioned in the sky. A perfect balance. A successful few hours I’d say.


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Black-necked Stork
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In South East Queensland there are only two rainbowfish species, crimson-spotted rainbowfish, and ornate rainbowfish. Ornate rainbowfish are incredibly distinct as fair as rainbowfish go so if the species you saw had the body shape of a "standard" rainbowfish these would have indeed been crimson spots. Rhadinocentrus are also incredibly localised in Brisbane and are only found in a few select locations.
 
Location 15: Sandy Camp Road Wetlands, Brisbane – 24th September 2021

The Sandy Camp Road Wetlands is ranked as the 3rd most diverse Brisbane birding spot after Tinchi Tamba and Oxley Common on eBird with an impressive 221 recorded species. The wetlands can be accessed via the Cleveland train and getting off at the Wynnum North station, followed by a 10-minute walk.

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Today’s adventure took me by the sea but before my stop to the seaside suburb of Wynnum, I popped into Sandy Camp for the morning. It’s a small site but absolutely packed with birdlife with a range of casuarina forest, grassland and well-established wetland which is a bit of a rarity in Brisbane. It’s also a known site for some of the rarer rails as well that occur in the area. Something that I immediately noticed as I walked in was the set of electric powerlines that ran throughout the grassland! Several species were perched along these so I’d recommend to keep a look out for White-breasted Woodswallows, several Sacred Kingfishers, Australasian Figbirds and Brown Honeyeaters. Groups of Superb Fairywrens were also common through this initial batch of bushland that ran parallel to essentially a lawn space.

A large population of both Bar-shouldered Doves and Crested Pigeons were also seen across the grassland. The most striking feature of the landscape was a rather plain pole with a large platform. It was positioned a few metres from the fence line near a row of houses and adjoining railway. I looked up and realised there was a nest and had two Eastern Ospreys staring down at me! They are apparently long-term residents of the Sandy Camp and raise their chicks there annually.

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Eastern Ospreys

The bushland quickly made way for the wetlands; several large bodies of water thick with waterlilies and vegetation. Prime jacana habitat and I wasn’t disappointed as several Comb-crested Jacanas were quickly spotted near the reeds. Other species included Australian Pelican, Dusky Moorhen, Australasian Swamphen, Eurasian Coot, Pacific Black Duck, Australian Wood Duck, Little Black Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Royal Spoonbill, Little Egret and Australasian Darter. It’s a known breeding site for darters. Their chicks are the funniest looking birds. The reedbeds were alive with movement. I was hoping for rails but I found several Australian Reed-Warblers which is not surprising as Sandy Camp is a reliable area for this species.

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Australasian Darter

The grassland was next with a very high density of Tawny Grassbirds, Golden-headed Cisticolas and Rainbow Bee-eaters found throughout the area. I also found a few nondescript butterfly species along with a Meadow Argus. The nearby bush was home to Spangled Drongo, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, several noisy kingfishers, and a beautiful group of Variegated Fairywrens. There were also several Eastern Water Dragons along the track.

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Tawny Grassbird

I felt like Sandy Camp was a ‘mini Oxley Creek Common’ and is a really worthwhile location for a great range of habitats and species. It was good stop to get a close look at many species that are often elusive or observed from great distances. It’s also a popular place for many birdwatchers which must mean the place is well-known for its good birding.
Birds
Comb-crested Jacana
Dusky Moorhen
Eurasian Coot
Australasian Swamphen
Pacific Black Duck
Australian Wood Duck
Royal Spoonbill
Little Egret
Australian Pelican
Crested Pigeon
Bar-shouldered Dove
Sacred Kingfisher
Rainbow Bee-eater
Eastern Osprey
Golden-headed Cisticola
Tawny Grassbird
Superb Fairywren
Variegated Fairywren
Brown Honeyeater
White-breasted Woodswallow
Australasian Figbird

Invertebrates
Meadow Argus

Location 16: Wynnum Mangrove Boardwalk, Brisbane – 24th September 2021

Target Species: Grey-crowed Babbler

The Wynnum Mangrove Boardwalk is a short loop traversing through a stretch of old mangroves. It a stunning site with towering mangroves that lead out to the open ocean. The birding is a bit thin on the ground in the area but my target for today was specifically the Grey-crowed Babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis). A common species in regional and rural areas but an increasingly uncommon one in Brisbane. These birds are real characters and there is a stretch of bushland behind a dog park where they have recently been recorded.

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The mangroves itself had a few species that were quickly spotted. Large groups of Mangrove Gerygones and Brown Honeyeaters moved in waves across the tall canopy of the mangroves. It really was a pleasure to see such a dense mangrove canopy with old gnarled trees that have been twisted and turned throughout the years of wear and tear. Also, the penetrating calls of Torresian Kingfishers travelled through the mangroves. Several individuals were spotted along the walk with a careful eye. Below the boardwalk was home to lots of Banded Toadfish as well. A White-bellied Sea Eagle also soared well above the mangroves.

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Torresian Kingfisher

After the brief saunter through the mangroves, it was time to find the babblers near the dog park so I headed up towards the large area. There were several parrot species around including Pale-headed Rosellas, Galahs and Little Corellas feeding on the large stretches of lawn.

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Galah

Well heads up I didn’t find the babblers but something that was much higher on my wish list! As I searched in the patch of bush wedged near the boardwalk and dog park, I heard a loud rustle in the scrub. It was big. Definitely not a skink nor a snake. I approached with caution and scanned the ground. A rabbit-sized furry figure scurried out of the thick grass. It resembled an agouti I thought but of course, it was my first wild bandicoot! They are much larger than I was expecting and completely unanticipated in the midday sun! I carefully approached it to distinguish which species it was; it was a Northern Brown Bandicoot. A lifer for me. A thrilling find. I even a got a quick snap of it as it was running into the thick grass. The highlight of my trip to the bayside.

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Northern Brown Bandicoot

Mammals
Northern Brown Bandicoot

Birds
White-bellied Sea Eagle
Torresian Kingfisher
Galah
Little Corella
Pale-headed Rosella
Mangrove Gerygone
Brown Honeyeater

Fish
Banded Toadfish
 
The Forest Kingfisher Find – Enoggera Reservoir [D’Aguilar National Park] - 28th September 2021

Target Species: Forest Kingfisher

Today I popped into the Araucaria Track in the Enoggera Reservoir for a few hours. I wanted to try out the location during the late afternoon and see if the range of species was generally different to the early morning birding. The target species for the trip was their resident Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii) as a species I just do not see enough of. They are incredibly striking birds with a wonderful rich, deep shade of blue that catches your eye as they fly from perch to perch. Like most wild kingfishers I find, they bolt at the sight of human presence so photography can be a challenge.

For a bit of context for wild kingfishers in Brisbane besides kookaburras, Sacred Kingfishers are by far the most common species being found in a range of habitats. Being a very specialised species, Torresian Kingfishers are also locally common in mangroves so are generally straightforward to find even close to suburbia if close to the coast. They often overlap with the Sacreds from personal observation. Azure Kingfishers seem to only be found along the fringes of Brisbane occasionally and I have only seen this species once (they will definitely be a target species as I travel further out of Brisbane). Red-backed Kingfishers sometimes pop up as well but are a real rarity. And finally, Forest Kingfishers are around at a few locations but are always a bit of a treat. I have seen wild Forests at this location and at Wildlife HQ where there is a resident bird that sits near the entrance on a powerline every time I visit. I am bit of a kingfisher nut so always relish a chance to find any of these species.

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I had a quiet start at the trail arriving after what seemed to be a busy day around the dam being school holidays at the moment in Queensland. The birding was slow to begin with a handful of Bell Miners and Lewin’s Honeyeaters chasing each other in the canopy. Australian Golden Whistlers were also found in good numbers sharing the space. The understorey had at least five different groups of Variegated Fairywrens along the entire trail. The males really popped against the dried grasses and thorny scrub. The waterways also had the usual Hardheads, Pacific Black Ducks and Australasian Grebes.

Above the water I spotted a blue flash heading towards a perch returning from a brief dip into the water; the local Forest Kingfisher. “Well, that was easy” I thought. I usually have to go a bit deeper into the bush before I can I find it. Just as I was about to raise my camera, it bolted as they traditionally do with sudden movement. I was sure I’d catch up with it later on my walk. Continuing on, I headed towards a small pool of water that is a reliable spot for bathing honeyeaters. Flocks of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Brown Honeyeaters and the aforementioned Lewin’s seem to always be taking turns dipping into the water. Today they were joined by another very nice species; an adult/juvenile pair of White-naped Honeyeaters. An unexpected lifer. A rule of thumb with Melithreptus honeyeaters is to always pay close attention to the eye patch colour as they differ from species to species. In this instance, the red eye patch was easily seen as the pair were in full view, close to the pool of water.

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Yellow-faced Honeyeater

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White-naped Honeyeater

After watching all the honeyeaters for a while, a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo also descended to have a drink sending the smaller birds away into the thick vegetation once more. Several Australian King Parrots also noisily flew over as well. Further down the track I found a Pheasant Coucal which was my first one for the year. The nearby tree was also home to Brown Thornbills and a White-throated Treecreeper.

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Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

I later caught up with that Forest Kingfisher. It was hiding among the branches along the water near a barer patch of forest. I moved a little closer to try and get a photo while it watched my every move. Always wonderful birds to see around and I realised their blue is multi-toned up close. The final notable birds seen were a flock of seven Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos which I had never seen at this site before. A fantastic way to end the day watching them feed.

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Forest Kingfisher
 
The Wader Welcome – Tabbil-ban Dhagun Boardwalk – 1st October 2021

Target Species: several species of waders

Funded by the Queensland Wader Study Group, several large billboards have recently been going up around Brisbane with huge images of Far Eastern Curlews with the words, “we’re back!”; and indeed, they are! The migratory waders have now returned to south-east Queensland finishing their huge journeys from the Northern Hemisphere. One Bar-tailed Godwit was recently recorded from Alaska to Moreton Bay; it travelled 10, 8000 kilometres in 10 days. A phenomenal journey and distance. One of my goals for late 2021/2022 birding is to try and improve my wader identification skills. I have started with the basics (knowing your whimbrels from your curlews) and will try to continue developing them.

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Nudgee Beach was packed with life today; the warmer months are really when the mangroves and shorelines come alive. The tidal area was covered in large flocks of waders resting and feeding after their long journeys.

Initially, a large figure caught my eye on the horizon. My binoculars revealed a long slender bill almost the length of its body. An unmistakable Far-Eastern Curlew. It was a lone bird among the other waders. I saw my first one at Tinchi Tamba last season but was able to get a better look at this species today. A very impressive bird but it’s a saddening thought that they are listed as endangered by the IUCN. The curlew was joined by several groups of Whimbrels which can be distinguished by their shorter bills. It was actually quite useful having both species in the one area to compare their bill lengths. Several groups of Whimbrels flew quite close to the boardwalk I was standing on, enabling me to see how odd they look in flight! Almost bat-like wing movements. The third and final migratory wader I could make out were Bar-tailed Godwits which are a lifer for me not because I haven’t seen them (I probably have) but today was the first time I could confidently identify them. They are actually quite distinctive with their white bellies and straight bills with a pink base. I did double check all these waders afterwards as well to make sure.

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Far Eastern Curlew

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Whimbrels

The year-round residents were also around on the tidal flats; several White-faced Herons, Little Egrets and Australian White Ibis. Large groups of Pied Stilts, Caspian Terns and Silver Gulls were also abundant along the horizon. The nearby mangroves were well-populated with Rainbow Bee-eaters today as well which I had never seen at this site before. Signage indicates this area is a well-known nesting site for them. Other species seen included Grey Fantail, Mangrove Gerygone, Brown Honeyeater and Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike. The calls of kingfishers and pardalotes also filled the trees but none were seen today. Anyway, it was great to see the waders and hopefully I can continue adding several more species during their stay in Australia.

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Little Egret

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White-faced Heron
 
Location 17: Lake Samsonvale [Forgan Park], Moreton Bay – 9th October 2021

Target Species: Great Crested Grebe

Lake Samsonvale – also known as the North Pine Dam – is a huge water source that is well-positioned along the edge of Brisbane’s most western suburbs heading out towards the southern portion of the Moreton Bay Region. The dam is located near the suburb of Petrie which is accessible via either train or the 680 bus that heads out towards that area which also travels out to the seaside town of Redcliffe (which is a fantastic spot for reef egrets as I have recently uncovered).

This place is a bit of a hidden gem and possesses a good balance of water and bushland birds. It has several trails which increases chances of seeing a wide range of species. Some alluring birds like Australian Painted Snipes have been recorded here. It’s also one of the very few reliable locations close to Brisbane with Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus); a species I have long been wanting to see. Despite having a widespread range across many continents, these grebes are very uncommon birds in and around Brisbane. They are highly localised and are often overshadowed by the much more common Australasian Grebes.

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Incredibly, as soon I as saw the vast body of water on the way in, I immediately spotted a large figure on the water. It was an unfamiliar bird with a darkish body and white neck. A quick look through the binoculars revealed an elegant Great Crested Grebe. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to find and how large they actually are! They are huge birds compared to the other native grebes. I was able to watch a pair of them gracefully travel the distance of the dam. What really caught my eye were their reddish-brown frills they have on their cheeks; they truly are stunning birds.

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Great Crested Grebe

Beside the grebe, there were no less than four species of cormorant around the dam all perched in the morning sun; Pied, Little Pied, Little Black and Great Cormorant. I was happy to see the Great Cormorants as I don’t see them as often as I should. The cormorants were joined by several Australasian Darters which are always a pleasure to see with their statuesque poses they had as they dried themselves near the water’s edge. There was also an Australian Pelican, several Australian Wood Ducks, Pacific Black Ducks and Masked Lapwings. A White-bellied Sea-Eagle was also surveying the perimeter of the dam well above the rest of the water birds. The picnic grounds were home to Scaly-breasted Lorikeets which are great parrots and are often overlooked due to their rainbow cousins.

After watching the grebe for a bit and walking the perimeter of this picnic area which is connected to the dam, I headed towards the main trail called Forgan Park. It’s a large forested area that runs parallel to the dam. It reminded of Enogerra Reservoir but on a much larger scale with a greater range of habitat types. This initial patch of forest was beautiful in its own right with or without birds; rich red eucalypt trees with a dense undergrowth of saplings overlooking the water. The first species I came across were Sacred Kingfishers. I should preface this by saying I counted at least twenty kingfishers today throughout the entire trail. They were everywhere; calling and busily attending to nests. I stopped to photograph one of the adults that was perched nearby when a few Noisy Friarbirds also caught my eye. The birds continued in a steady fashion with a male Leaden Flycatcher being one of my favourite appearances. This particular male was actually getting a quick feed before returning to his cup-shaped nest that was sitting on an overhead branch. Brown Honeyeaters, Lewin Honeyeaters and Australian Golden Whistlers were also common.

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Sacred Kingfisher

Around a corner, the treed habitat turned into what I can only describe an a ‘Mediterranean’ feel with a much drier landscape with trees that resemble olives I thought. There was a noisy chatter coming from one of the trees with small little blobs moving across the canopy. Some of them were latching onto the bark like a treecreeper. I caught sight of their white heads and orange flashes of their wings which meant they were a group of Varied Sittellas which are fantastic little birds to see in a group. They were very chatty as they were finding food. The sittellas were joined by a bronze-cuckoo which I couldn’t identify to species level as it quickly flew off. The ‘olive grove’ was home to several Yellow-faced Honeyeaters as well. I was also delighted to find a pair of Rufous Shrike-thrushes which have such a distinct shade of brown. Hard to describe but I guess but it’s like a mix of olive, rufous and grey all topped off with a little pink beak. They were all foraging as it was early morning. The thicket was also live with the sound of Variegated Fairywrens and White-browed Scrubwrens which both later made an appearance. Pied Currawongs also surveyed the land from a distance, watching the small birds carefully.

The landscape dramatically changed again this time into a more arid-looking scene with reddish, more compact soil, drier grasses and paler eucalypts. It felt like being in inland Australia. This new habitat meant new birds. This was finch territory with large flocks of both Red-browed Finches and Double-barred Finches feeding on grass seeds. There were more kingfishers and their nests, Silvereyes and at least ten White-throated Honeyeaters. There was so much activity I didn’t know where to look. To top things all off, I heard a penetrating call travel through the sky - “seo-ooooooo, si-si-si-si”. It increased in volume as the birds approach the tallest tree in the area. A beautiful pair of Whistling Kites. I had found their nearby nest. I didn’t want to disturb them so I moved along quickly.

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Silvereye

Around the bend the familiar reddish eucalypts returned with a generally wetter, moister feel to the forest. The shrubbery was abundant with fairywrens and I caught sight of a Rufous Fantail which was close to the forest floor. Pops of yellow bounced through the bushes with several Eastern Yellow Robins out and about along with a White-throated Treecreeper which I played a bit of hide and seek with. When it saw me it would hide behind the trunk. I then waited, it emerged again and hopped up the tree to hide again. Another notable bird in this patch included a young Fan-tailed Cuckoo. The birds just kept coming and coming with more of the aforementioned honeyeaters, finches, treecreepers, fairywrens, kingfishers and sittellas with several waves, adding Rufous Whistlers and Scarlet Honeyeaters. This place is packed with birds.

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Eastern Yellow Robin

While I was observing the little cuckoo attempting to figure what it was, a large animal bolted towards the leaf litter in front of me; a Lace Monitor! Only a smallish individual with a really vivid patterning. It paused on the ground and then began to climb up the nearest tree. I have only seen these monitors in the wild a handful of times; once at Enogerra Reservoir and another time interstate. They are impressive creatures to say the least especially when there isn’t any barrier between you and the animal.

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Lace Monitor

But wait they was more! A few minutes later I came across yet another exciting reptile find which was an Eastern Bearded Dragon pretending to be a rock. It didn’t flinch for the whole time it was there. It was just sitting on a rock a few inches from the path. They too are an uncommon find for me so I was delighted to find one with relative ease.

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Eastern Bearded Dragon

As I made my way out towards the exit the grebe was still out on the lake and the pair of kites were soaring above the dam as well. So around 45-50 bird species in the space of 1.5 hours; not a bad find at all. I was shocked at how empty this place is as well and am surprised how little it is discussed among birdwatching groups. I highly recommend a visit especially considering I only ventured out onto one trail and there are several more sites across the whole dam with a greater range of species. You could spend hours exploring the other trails on the other side of the dam like the Postman’s Track which regularly picks up rainforest birds like fruit doves and rarer honeyeaters like Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters (I will gradually work my way through the different trails on future visits for this thread). As an old song says “some days are diamonds, some days are stones” and today was definitely sparkling. It’s days like today that make all the searching and inevitable failures that come with wildlife watching well worth it.

Birds
Australian Brush-turkey, Alectura lathami
Pacific Black Duck, Anas superciliosa
Australian Wood Duck, Chenonetta jubata
Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus
Australian Pelican, Pelecanus conspicillatus
Little Pied Cormorant, Microcarbo melanoleucos
Little Black Cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
Pied Cormorant, Phalacrocorax varius
Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
Australasian Darter, Anhinga novaehollandiae
Australian White Ibis, Threskiornis moluccus
Masked Lapwing, Vanellus miles (novaehollandiae)
Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Cacomantis flabelliformis
Sacred Kingfisher, Todiramphus sanctus
Laughing Kookaburra, Dacelo novaeguineae
White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Haliaeetus leucogaster
Whistling Kite, Haliastur sphenurus
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
Noisy Friarbird, Philemon corniculatus
Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Lichenostomus chrysops
Brown Honeyeater, Lichmera indistincta
Lewin’s Honeyeater, Meliphaga lewinii
White-throated Honeyeater, Melithreptus albogularis
Scarlet Honeyeater, Myzomela sanguinolenta
Rufous Shrike-thrush, Colluricincla rufogaster
Australian Golden Whistler, Pachycephala pectoralis
Rufous Whistler, Pachycephala rufiventris
Varied Sittella, Daphoenositta chrysoptera
Silvereye, Zosterops lateralis
White-browed Scrubwren, Sericornis frontalis
Eastern Yellow Robin, Eopsaltria australis
White-throated Treecreeper, Cormobates leucophaea
Variegated Fairywren, Malurus lamberti
Leaden Flycatcher, Myiagra rubecula
Magpie-Lark, Grallina cyanoleuca
Grey Fantail, Rhipidura albiscapa
Rufous Fantail, Rhipidura rufifrons
Willie Wagtail, Rhipidura leucophrys
Pied Currawong, Strepera graculina
Australian Magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen
Red-browed Finch, Neochmia temporalis
Double-barred Finch, Taeniopygia bichenovii

Reptiles
Lace Monitor, Varanus varius
Eastern Bearded Dragon, Pogona barbata
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Location 17: Lake Samsonvale [Forgan Park], Moreton Bay – 9th October 2021

Target Species: Great Crested Grebe

Lake Samsonvale – also known as the North Pine Dam – is a huge water source that is well-positioned along the edge of Brisbane’s most western suburbs heading out towards the southern portion of the Moreton Bay Region. The dam is located near the suburb of Petrie which is accessible via either train or the 680 bus that heads out towards that area which also travels out to the seaside town of Redcliffe (which is a fantastic spot for reef egrets as I have recently uncovered).

This place is a bit of a hidden gem and possesses a good balance of water and bushland birds. It has several trails which increases chances of seeing a wide range of species. Some alluring birds like Australian Painted Snipes have been recorded here. It’s also one of the very few reliable locations close to Brisbane with Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus); a species I have long been wanting to see. Despite having a widespread range across many continents, these grebes are very uncommon birds in and around Brisbane. They are highly localised and are often overshadowed by the much more common Australasian Grebes.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Incredibly, as soon I as saw the vast body of water on the way in, I immediately spotted a large figure on the water. It was an unfamiliar bird with a darkish body and white neck. A quick look through the binoculars revealed an elegant Great Crested Grebe. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to find and how large they actually are! They are huge birds compared to the other native grebes. I was able to watch a pair of them gracefully travel the distance of the dam. What really caught my eye were their reddish-brown frills they have on their cheeks; they truly are stunning birds.

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Great Crested Grebe

Beside the grebe, there were no less than four species of cormorant around the dam all perched in the morning sun; Pied, Little Pied, Little Black and Great Cormorant. I was happy to see the Great Cormorants as I don’t see them as often as I should. The cormorants were joined by several Australasian Darters which are always a pleasure to see with their statuesque poses they had as they dried themselves near the water’s edge. There was also an Australian Pelican, several Australian Wood Ducks, Pacific Black Ducks and Masked Lapwings. A White-bellied Sea-Eagle was also surveying the perimeter of the dam well above the rest of the water birds. The picnic grounds were home to Scaly-breasted Lorikeets which are great parrots and are often overlooked due to their rainbow cousins.

After watching the grebe for a bit and walking the perimeter of this picnic area which is connected to the dam, I headed towards the main trail called Forgan Park. It’s a large forested area that runs parallel to the dam. It reminded of Enogerra Reservoir but on a much larger scale with a greater range of habitat types. This initial patch of forest was beautiful in its own right with or without birds; rich red eucalypt trees with a dense undergrowth of saplings overlooking the water. The first species I came across were Sacred Kingfishers. I should preface this by saying I counted at least twenty kingfishers today throughout the entire trail. They were everywhere; calling and busily attending to nests. I stopped to photograph one of the adults that was perched nearby when a few Noisy Friarbirds also caught my eye. The birds continued in a steady fashion with a male Leaden Flycatcher being one of my favourite appearances. This particular male was actually getting a quick feed before returning to his cup-shaped nest that was sitting on an overhead branch. Brown Honeyeaters, Lewin Honeyeaters and Australian Golden Whistlers were also common.

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Sacred Kingfisher

Around a corner, the treed habitat turned into what I can only describe an a ‘Mediterranean’ feel with a much drier landscape with trees that resemble olives I thought. There was a noisy chatter coming from one of the trees with small little blobs moving across the canopy. Some of them were latching onto the bark like a treecreeper. I caught sight of their white heads and orange flashes of their wings which meant they were a group of Varied Sittellas which are fantastic little birds to see in a group. They were very chatty as they were finding food. The sittellas were joined by a bronze-cuckoo which I couldn’t identify to species level as it quickly flew off. The ‘olive grove’ was home to several Yellow-faced Honeyeaters as well. I was also delighted to find a pair of Rufous Shrike-thrushes which have such a distinct shade of brown. Hard to describe but I guess but it’s like a mix of olive, rufous and grey all topped off with a little pink beak. They were all foraging as it was early morning. The thicket was also live with the sound of Variegated Fairywrens and White-browed Scrubwrens which both later made an appearance. Pied Currawongs also surveyed the land from a distance, watching the small birds carefully.

The landscape dramatically changed again this time into a more arid-looking scene with reddish, more compact soil, drier grasses and paler eucalypts. It felt like being in inland Australia. This new habitat meant new birds. This was finch territory with large flocks of both Red-browed Finches and Double-barred Finches feeding on grass seeds. There were more kingfishers and their nests, Silvereyes and at least ten White-throated Honeyeaters. There was so much activity I didn’t know where to look. To top things all off, I heard a penetrating call travel through the sky - “seo-ooooooo, si-si-si-si”. It increased in volume as the birds approach the tallest tree in the area. A beautiful pair of Whistling Kites. I had found their nearby nest. I didn’t want to disturb them so I moved along quickly.

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Silvereye

Around the bend the familiar reddish eucalypts returned with a generally wetter, moister feel to the forest. The shrubbery was abundant with fairywrens and I caught sight of a Rufous Fantail which was close to the forest floor. Pops of yellow bounced through the bushes with several Eastern Yellow Robins out and about along with a White-throated Treecreeper which I played a bit of hide and seek with. When it saw me it would hide behind the trunk. I then waited, it emerged again and hopped up the tree to hide again. Another notable bird in this patch included a young Fan-tailed Cuckoo. The birds just kept coming and coming with more of the aforementioned honeyeaters, finches, treecreepers, fairywrens, kingfishers and sittellas with several waves, adding Rufous Whistlers and Scarlet Honeyeaters. This place is packed with birds.

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Eastern Yellow Robin

While I was observing the little cuckoo attempting to figure what it was, a large animal bolted towards the leaf litter in front of me; a Lace Monitor! Only a smallish individual with a really vivid patterning. It paused on the ground and then began to climb up the nearest tree. I have only seen these monitors in the wild a handful of times; once at Enogerra Reservoir and another time interstate. They are impressive creatures to say the least especially when there isn’t any barrier between you and the animal.

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Lace Monitor

But wait they was more! A few minutes later I came across yet another exciting reptile find which was an Eastern Bearded Dragon pretending to be a rock. It didn’t flinch for the whole time it was there. It was just sitting on a rock a few inches from the path. They too are an uncommon find for me so I was delighted to find one with relative ease.

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Eastern Bearded Dragon

As I made my way out towards the exit the grebe was still out on the lake and the pair of kites were soaring above the dam as well. So around 45-50 bird species in the space of 1.5 hours; not a bad find at all. I was shocked at how empty this place is as well and am surprised how little it is discussed among birdwatching groups. I highly recommend a visit especially considering I only ventured out onto one trail and there are several more sites across the whole dam with a greater range of species. You could spend hours exploring the other trails on the other side of the dam like the Postman’s Track which regularly picks up rainforest birds like fruit doves and rarer honeyeaters like Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters (I will gradually work my way through the different trails on future visits for this thread). As an old song says “some days are diamonds, some days are stones” and today was definitely sparkling. It’s days like today that make all the searching and inevitable failures that come with wildlife watching well worth it.

Birds
Australian Brush-turkey, Alectura lathami
Pacific Black Duck, Anas superciliosa
Australian Wood Duck, Chenonetta jubata
Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus
Australian Pelican, Pelecanus conspicillatus
Little Pied Cormorant, Microcarbo melanoleucos
Little Black Cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
Pied Cormorant, Phalacrocorax varius
Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
Australasian Darter, Anhinga novaehollandiae
Australian White Ibis, Threskiornis moluccus
Masked Lapwing, Vanellus miles (novaehollandiae)
Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Cacomantis flabelliformis
Sacred Kingfisher, Todiramphus sanctus
Laughing Kookaburra, Dacelo novaeguineae
White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Haliaeetus leucogaster
Whistling Kite, Haliastur sphenurus
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
Noisy Friarbird, Philemon corniculatus
Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Lichenostomus chrysops
Brown Honeyeater, Lichmera indistincta
Lewin’s Honeyeater, Meliphaga lewinii
White-throated Honeyeater, Melithreptus albogularis
Scarlet Honeyeater, Myzomela sanguinolenta
Rufous Shrike-thrush, Colluricincla rufogaster
Australian Golden Whistler, Pachycephala pectoralis
Rufous Whistler, Pachycephala rufiventris
Varied Sittella, Daphoenositta chrysoptera
Silvereye, Zosterops lateralis
White-browed Scrubwren, Sericornis frontalis
Eastern Yellow Robin, Eopsaltria australis
White-throated Treecreeper, Cormobates leucophaea
Variegated Fairywren, Malurus lamberti
Leaden Flycatcher, Myiagra rubecula
Magpie-Lark, Grallina cyanoleuca
Grey Fantail, Rhipidura albiscapa
Rufous Fantail, Rhipidura rufifrons
Willie Wagtail, Rhipidura leucophrys
Pied Currawong, Strepera graculina
Australian Magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen
Red-browed Finch, Neochmia temporalis
Double-barred Finch, Taeniopygia bichenovii

Reptiles
Lace Monitor, Varanus varius
Eastern Bearded Dragon, Pogona barbata
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Thats a nice score of birds in such a short amount of time. Since there were so many water bird species I am surprised there were no Spoonbills spotted?
 
After the Storm – Kedron Brook Wetlands Reserve – 14th October 2021

Today Brisbane received a thrashing with a heavy thunderstorm this morning. Unfortunately, the pair of Blue-faced Honeyeaters that nest in the front tree outside my house had a setback today. One of their young ones didn’t make the storm and was found deceased on the footpath. The other young bird looked alright and the adults were tending to it afterwards. Their offspring are often a highlight of spring and are usually pretty bold birds so are great fun to watch. The family of honeyeaters are long-term residents to the area so I always keep a close eye on them.

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Juvenile Blue-faced Honeyeaters (2019)

Anyway, I often like to go birding after a big morning storm for several reasons: (1) there is usually a good chance to find some birds sheltering and drying off, (2) cloudier weather is preferable for photography over harsh bright light, (3) sometimes new species also appear in the area swept in after heavy wind and (4) less people about. This afternoon I headed out towards Kedron Brook Wetlands Reserve just for some casual birding. No target species or anything like that; just turn up and see what I can find.

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As I walked along the first stretch of park, there were several butterflies still clinging onto a nearby tree, presumably seeking shelter after the heavy wind and rain. It reminded me of nature’s version of a Christmas tree with butterflies latching onto the branches as if there were an assortment of baubles. There were four species I saw; Monarch, Blue Tiger, Common Crow and Orchard Swallowtail. They all remained very still on the tree enabling me to get good photographs of them. The Blue Tigers all looked very ‘fresh’ with bright vibrant blues. The poor old Monarchs are starting to look a bit tattered and worn though. I am still waiting to see my first Blue Triangles of the season. Also I am keeping an eye out for Lesser Wanderers (my favourite) as they often come out after rain I find.

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Blue Tiger

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Orchard Swallowtail

The nearby pathway along the tree with the butterflies was also filled with birds sheltering close to the path. I found several wet Blue-faced Honeyeaters, a vocal Olive-backed Oriole, Australasian Figbirds and a Little Friarbird. I usually find these species up towards the bike path but they were all easily found close to the path today. An Australasian Darter was also drying off near the bank and an Eastern Water Dragon was also spotted. The pair of Rainbow Bee-eaters that live right near the beginning of the bike way were also seen reliably as they usually are.

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Australasian Darter

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Olive-backed Oriole

The mangroves that run along the bike path were home to the usual Striated Pardalotes and Brown Honeyeaters. The grasses were filled to the brim with Tawny Grassbirds. I have never seen so many of them and as they are such vocal birds they are usually able to be pinpointed. The water level had risen dramatically due to all the heavy rain since my last visit so it was perfect for several pairs of Chestnut Teals that were later joined by a pair of Little Egrets that appeared along the water’s edge momentarily. The resident Eastern Osprey and Brahminy Kite were also seen soaring just above the horizon.

I made my way towards the main water body through one of the trails that cuts through the grassland. The rain had created a marshy environment with several frogs calling. I couldn’t find any unfortunately. Besides the usual pelicans and stilts, the water was relatively empty. I walked around the water through a path that runs adjacent to a main highway where there is a patch of dense casuarina. I was pleased to see several traditionally bushland birds that I don’t see at Kedron Brook usually. There was a Grey Shrike-thrush, four Bar-shouldered Doves and a Spangled Drongo. There were two cuckoo-shrikes as well; one was clearly a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike but the other bird looked a bit strange. It was generally lighter in colour and didn’t have that pronounced black face mask. I soon figured out it was a juvenile Black-faced; never seen one of those before. All of these species were a few branches away from each other so they made for a nice little group to watch for a while.

The birding picked up from here. I flushed out a pair of Brown Quail which had been a species I’d only seen exclusively at Oxley Common. It’s great to know they live in the thick grassland and must probably represent half of all the ‘grass rustles’ I hear throughout my walk. A pair of Australian Pipits were also nearby and they are such underrated birds. The pipits and quail formed a little flock out towards the middle of the expansive patch of grass when the quail later emerged in the afternoon sun. As I approached the mangroves, a group of five Mangrove Honeyeaters were all sitting on the path. I was about to get my camera up but the flock darted straight into the mangroves. Typical.

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Australian Pipit

At about 4:30pm, it was fairywren feeding time. Lots of family groups of Superb Fairywrens came about of the dense grassland and started feeding all along the edge of the path and open grass. All their chicks have seemed to fledged so their numbers have increased which is great. How can you ever get tired of fairywrens? A male Mistletoebird was also seen in a lone tree. I was surprised to see one in this relatively open area. A flock of Chestnut-breasted Mannikins were also feeding while I was delighted to also find a very wet-looking Golden-headed Cisticola along the path as well. Heading towards more treed parkland near the exit, a White-breasted Woodswallow and a Sacred Kingfisher were also found sheltering in a large tree. It was a nice way to spend a cloudy afternoon.

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Superb Fairywrens
 
Location 18: Keperra Bushland Reserve, Brisbane – 16th October 2021

The Keperra Bushland Reserve is a 150-hectare patch located in the northern suburbs of Brisbane. This place is actually only a few suburbs away from the Gap, the location that has the Enoggera Reservoir that I frequent often. Even though it’s nearby, I had never heard of this site until I joined a few birdwatching groups and had seen the name pop in relation to healthy populations of finches close to the suburbs. I thought I’d may as well give it a try as I was in the area. It was about 4:30pm when I got there so a spot of dusk birding was the plan. I was expecting some council park with a few patches of long grass as it’s often the case with these ‘bushland reserves’ but I was so wonderfully incorrect and this afternoon represented one of the most delightfully serendipitous wildlife watching experiences I have had. I stayed till 6:30 quietly watching a group of the most unexpected, utterly unique birds.

Please note a moderate level of fitness is required for this reserve. There was some very steep terrain that required some coordination to get down safely. The majority of the paths are just dirt trails but it begins slowly and increased in elevation quite dramatically. Close to the end there was a relatively short and steep hill to descend. The ground was almost like sand, providing little traction even with my boots. So it was steeper than expected but well worth it.

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Within seconds of arriving, I found Double-barred Finches in the thick grass a few metres away from the entrance. There was a nearby small pool of water where birds regularly came down for water giving close views of a range of species. I saw Eastern Yellow Robins, lots of Red-browed Finches, Bar-shouldered Doves, Australian Golden Whistlers, Rufous Whistlers, Silvereyes and Brown Honeyeaters. A nice little group of species. Unfortunately, it was nigh possible for photography due to the thick grass coverage that surrounded the water. Never mind it was great to observe them up close and see them congregate in such a large group together. The silvereyes and honeyeaters did chase each other from the site. The canopy above the water had a few Noisy Friarbirds as well.

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Double-barred Finch

Approaching a steeper incline, I heard the happy sound of Australian King Parrots. There was a male and two females feeding high in the trees. They came down from the canopy for a few minutes. The red male blended in surprisingly well in the landscape despite the bright colours. I do like king parrots a lot so am always pleased to see them. Come to think about, I can only think of only a handful of instances when I have seen them in the wild which is surprising. An Olive-backed Oriole and Australasian Figbirds were also noted.

Heading towards the lookout, I suddenly saw these little bodies scrambling in the undergrowth. They were such shy birds retreating into the grass with the slightest movement. I thought they were Brown Quail but then I saw a red wash across their bodies. I paused and waited. Hang on, could they really be what I think they were? Out here? So close to the suburbs with all the joggers and dog-walkers? One bird moved towards the dim light, I had my camera ready and one quick photo confirmed it all.

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Painted Button-quail

Painted Button-quail!! Not just one of them either but a group of six birds at least. They were all foraging and navigating their way through the grass. They are such beautifully-patterned birds and possess a lovely combination of rusty reds, greys and streaked browns. They actually weren’t the only group of button-quails I found as there were several birds found feeding in the leaf litter around the lookout across the reserve. For a bit of context, the only other button-quail I had ever seen were captive Black-breasted Button-quails when Currumbin had them on-show so these were a very welcome addition. After spending a good amount of time just observing them, button-quail are officially a new favourite of mine. The more I see of them in the future, the better.

The second lifer within the hour was seen during my descent from the lookout. It was such an unusual bird with a greyish colouration and almost bluish tinge, probably due to the low level of light as the sun was setting. It was a Cicadabird. Only when I found it did I realise I knew so little about them. After some research and looking up it call, I realised it was a familiar song of the forest but uncommon to see. So, my Campehagidae count stands at four with Cicadabird, Varied Triller, Barred Cuckoo-shrike and Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike. Three to go for Australian birds! I am genuinely surprised I haven’t picked up White-bellied yet as they are apparently more common that some of the species I have already seen.

Anyway, Keperra Bushland was such an unexpected surprise! It was certainly quality over quantity with the range of species I saw this afternoon. A bit of a hidden secret that would fit in nicely if one would like to combine it with the nearby Enoggera Reservoir.

Birds
Painted Button-quail, Turnix varius
Bar-shouldered Dove, Geopelia humeralis
Galah, Eolophus roseicapilla
Little Corella, Cacatua sanguinea
Australian King Parrot, Alisterus scapularis
Silvereye, Zosterops lateralis
Rufous Whistler, Pachycephala rufiventris
Australian Golden Whistler, Pachycephala pectoralis
Eastern Yellow Robin, Eopsaltria australis
Brown Honeyeater, Lichmera indistincta
Rufous Fantail, Rhipidura rufifrons
Olive-backed Oriole, Oriolus sagittatus
Australasian Figbird, Sphecotheres vieilloti
Cicadabird, Coracina tenuirostris
Red-browed Finch, Neochmia temporalis
Double-barred Finch, Taeniopygia bichenovii

Amphibians
Cane Toad, Rhinella marina
 
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WhistlingKite24 said:
The second lifer within the hour was seen during my descent from the lookout. It was such an unusual bird with a greyish colouration and almost bluish tinge, probably due to the low level of light as the sun was setting. It was a Cicadabird. Only when I found it did I realise I knew so little about them. After some research and looking up it call, I realised it was a familiar song of the forest but uncommon to see.
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Cicadabirds are nice. I've only seen one, which was the last time I was in Australia, at Schuster Park on the Gold Coast.
 
Oriole Observations – Kedron Brook Wetlands Reserve – 5th November 2021

To mark the end of a long semester, I spent a quiet afternoon at the Kedron Brook for a few hours. The weather was perfect with below-average temperatures as summer steadily approaches. The Kedron Brook was largely free of the usual cyclists that you often have to dodge. Fairywrens filled the grasses as grassbirds and finches fed in the undergrowth. But there was one group of birds that caught my attention today. They aren’t particularly uncommon yet form a staple of the Brisbane birds. The orioles represent only a small family in Australia with the Australasian Figbird and Olive-backed Oriole occurring locally. Both are found readily near human settlements and are brightly coloured birds with predominantly olive-green colouration with streaked patterning and touches of red. They are also vocal birds with a wide repertoire of far-carrying calls that fill the sound of suburban and parkland trees.

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Before I get on with my trip to the Kedron Brook, I must mention a little critter that has been making a regular appearance in the neighbourhood. An Australian Garden Mantis has been perched on a window hunting little insects that scuttle past within reach for a few days now. As I type this, it is still sitting on the window keeping an eye on things. My own personal pest control service. Brisbane has about a dozen recorded species of mantis including some very well-camouflaged ones so it’s always a treat to find one. Note the vivid orange antennae!

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Australian Garden Mantis

Onto the Kedron Brook, an Olive-backed Oriole immediately made its presence known in a nearby row of trees along the park as I entered the area. This bird is always particularly bold and doesn’t shy away from humans often perching closely. The Little Friarbird was also hanging around nearby calling from the top of the branch. The local Rainbow Bee-eaters were out and about, hunting on the wing and also regularly attending to a nesting burrow. I will certainly look for the emergence of chicks soon if all goes well for this long-term pair of the area. I also flushed out a pair of Bar-shouldered Doves which are always a nice species to see. They quickly flew to the top of a nearby tree.

The highlight of the visit was a beautiful Black-shouldered Kite hovering well above the grassland. They aren’t as common in the immediate Brisbane area as the Haliastur kites and it was the first time I’d seen one in the Kedron Brook. The bird spent a short while patrolling the area before heading off out of sight. Just a magnificent pop of white with those prominent black wing patches. There was also an abundance of Fairy Martins, Tree Martins and Welcome Swallows. There are usually a few woodswallows that join them but I didn’t see any today.

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Fairy Martin

A delicately-patterned moth caught my eye. It fluttered around for a while and I was hoping it would land somewhere nearby so I could get a photo for a proper identification. It popped itself onto the casuarina and had a really interesting colour scheme with largely brown wings with white splotches and an eye-catching orange head and body. Intrigued, I got it identified and it turned out to be an Asian Magpie Moth.

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Asian Magpie Moth

As I reached the mangroves, droves of Mangrove Honeyeaters were out today. Their calls filled the air with melody. Interestingly, the Mangrove Gergyones were also seen close to the path which is rather unusual as an often retreating species especially in this very open area. A male Australasian Figbird was also calling from the mangroves. An almost abundant species that has managed to persist in most habitats across Brisbane but always a welcome bird to see out in the open.

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Australasian Figbird, calling

On my way out, large flocks of Chestnut-breasted Mannikins descended from the casuarina trees into the grassland for feeding. A Golden-headed Cisticola also followed them. Oddly the cisticola stayed in flight for a while, almost hovering, before it found a patch to land. Grey Fantails were singing their little hearts out as well. The stretch of mangrove opposite the grass had a pair of Striated Herons that bolted into the air. Egrets were also around in large numbers today – both Intermediate and Little – and are starting to get their beautiful breeding flushes and plumages when they truly look their best.

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Chestnut-breasted Mannikins

As always, a satisfying stop to peacefully watch the birds and additional wildlife. There have also been some interesting records of waders here recently – pectoral sandpiper, golden plovers etc. so I hope to pick some of these up soon as well. Also, I have booked a weekend-long trip to a new area just before Christmas so that should hopefully add some exciting locations and wildlife.
 
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